Adjustable clamp for cables and the like



June 19, 1928.

H. W. SHONNARD ADJUSTABLE CLAMP FOR CABLES AND THE LIKE Filed March a; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnvewto z June 19, 1928. 1,673,922

H. W. SHONNARD ADJUSTABLE CLAMP FOR CABLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1927 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oer-ice. A

HAROLD, W. SHONNABD, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR To ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COMPANY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE CLAMP FOR CABLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 5, 1927. Seria1zNo.c173,U90.'

The present invention relates to means whereby any number of solid bodies may be quickly and easily fastened in a firm and effective manner at any desired point or points upon a rope, cable, strap or the like. More particularly the invention is intelided. to provide a new and improved means of the kind above mentioned for use in connection with means for operating master switches for the control of elevators.

In my pending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 86,986, filed February 9th, 1926, I have described a form of control for elevators com rising an electric master, switch operated 2y movements of. the doors on the various floors. In this application the door opening'means oneach floor is furnished with a member which moves up or down as the door moves one way or the other, which members are adapted to come into operativecontact with solid bodies fixed opposite the various doors respectively upon a cable, rope or strap extending vertically through the elevator shaft and adapted to operate the master valve.

The structure forming the subject matter of the present invention is particularly intended for use for this and similar uses.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a portion of a door and master switch structure in elevation and illustrates the position and use of my improved clamp, Figure 2 is a side view of my clamp when in position on the rope, cable or strap, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but shown partly in section, Figures 4. and 5 are opposite end views of my clamp in place, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the slotted member of my clamp.

In Figure 1 is shown the upper half of an elevator door together with the automatic door closer and the cable whereby said switch is operated, my improved clamp being shown in position at 10.

At 11 is shown a sliding door which is operated by means of a pair of toggle bars, 12 and 13, pivotally joined at 14. I The bar 12 is pivotally fixed to the door 11at 15, and the bar 13 is pivotally supported at the side of the door opening at 16. For manual operation, a handle 17 is supplied for opening the door. By drawing down this handle, the toggle lock is broken andthe bars 12 and 13 fold together ina well known manner.

A connecting bar 18- i s pivotally connected. at 19 with an arm 20 on the togglebar 13, and connects; the same with an automatic door closer 21 of any convenient character.

The connecting bar 18 carries an arm 22 which is adapted to press upward upon the body 10 when the door is opened, thus acting through the cable or strap 23 to revolve the weighted pulley 24. WVhen the pulley is thus revolved, it acts through the rod'25 to operate the master-switch (not shown) to prevent operation of the elevator so long as the door is opem All this is described fully in my aforesaid applicationfor patent.

My improved clamp comprises two separable' elements, 26 and 27 andthe same is shown in detail in Figures2 to 6 as applied to a cable 28 in strap form, which maybe made of any appropriate.material or may have any suitable formin crosstsection,

The element. 26, is a merehollow shellof approximately cylindrical form, being preferably flattened in hexagonal form on its exterior surface as shown in Figures 2, and 4. At one end this element has a wider opening within which is a female screw thread 29; while at the other end is a narrower opening 30, preferably conical, and wide enoughto permit the element 26 to he slipped loosely over the cable 28. y This element may, for convenience, be termed the socket.

The second element 27, which is similar to 26 in external shape and size may be termed the plug, since it is adapted to screw into the element 26.

The plug has an externally threaded extension 31 adapted to fit the female screw 29 in the socket, while beyond the extension 31 projects the chamfered lip piece 32 adapted to extend into the conical opening 30 in the socket.

From the base of the inclined face on the projection 32 there extends longitudinally through the body 27 of the plug, a slot 33, open on one side only, as plainly shown in Figure 6. This should be just broad enough to fit over the. cable 28, as shown.

The mode of use of my improvement, as applied to a cable 28 for any purpose, is as follows.

When the cable is first put into place, the

sockets 26 are strung loosely over such cable, the number so applied corresponding to the use to be made of them. In elevator practice, ther should be one for each floor.

When the complete clamp is to be applied at a specilie part of the cable 28, the slot 33 of a plug 27 is slipped over the cable or strap at the position desired, and the corresponding socket 26 is then screwed down upon the extension 31. As shown clearly in Figure 3, this has the etlect of bending the cable down against the inclined face of the chamtcred lip piece 32, which insures the clamp from all danger of slipping along the cable or strap in either direction. since the cable is also confined by the opening 30 so as to prevent its bending back.

The entire clamp can be readily removed to give it a. new position on the cable 28, or otherwise, by simply unscrewing the socket 520 and slipping the slot 33 in the plug oil of the cable.

lVhat I claim is 1. In combination with a continuous normally unbent cable, an adjustable clamp comprising a hollow socket having a slot just wide enough to admit the unbent. Wild. and having a chainlered end. and a hollow plug adapted to screw over said end whereb) to cause a bend in the cable when the plug and socket are combined.

2. A clamp comprising a hollow socket having a wider threaded portion and a narrower unthreaded portion in combination with a plug having a longitudinal slot opening on one side thereof, said plug being threaded at one end to screw into said socket.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the plug is provided with a cbainl'cred extension adapted to enter the narrower unthreat'lcd portion of the socket.

4. An adjustable clailil) for the purpose described comprising a hollow socket; having a narrower portion at one end and a hollow plug adapted to make connection with said socket, said plug having a rhaintered lip portion adapted to enter the narrower portion of the plug.

5. A clamp comprising a hollow threaded socket in combination with a plug adapted to screw into one end ol the same and having a slot in th side tbcreol' inclined to the axis ol the plug, whereby when the clamp is applied to a cable and the plug and Pocket are united the cable. forced to bend.

ti l

(S. A clamp comprising a hollow socket narrower at one end than at the other in combination with a plug adapted to lit into said socket and make connection therewith. said plug having a groove extending along its surface obliquel; to the axis of the plug. whereby when the clamp is applied to a cable. the latter is bent. in its passage through the socket and plug.

In testimony whereof I have hereto aliixed my signature on this 28 day oi l ebruary 102i.

HAROLD SI-ION NA RI).

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